A house fire in Stokes County again points out the critical need for volunteer firefighters; Margaret Johnson reports.

A house fire in Stokes County again points out the critical need for volunteer firefighters; Margaret Johnson reports.

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Updated: 7:19 PM EST Feb 17, 2016

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WEBVTT WANDA: STILL NO WORD ON WHATCAUSED THE FIRE THAT BURNED DOWNA HOUSE NEAR A CAMPGROUND.THE NEED FOR VOLUNTEERFIREFIGHTERS IN THAT COUNTY.MARGO: ONE LOOKING YOU CAN SEEJUST HOW TO STRUCTURE THIS FIREWAS.SOME 30 HOURS LATER IT IS STILLSMOKING.THE FIRE MARSHAL TELLS ME THATTHE FIRST CREW THAT RESPONDEDONLY HAD ABOUT SIX OR EIGHTPEOPLE FOR THIS JOB.REQUIR THE FIRE BURNED TO THEWOODEN HOUSE DOWN IN JUSTMINUTES.THE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE DEPUTYJUST VALIDATED AND AMPLIFIEDWHAT THEY ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THEFIRE.A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF VOLUNTEERFIREFIGHTERS IN THIS COUNTY.THEIR 15 DEPARTMENTS IN THECOUNTY.NEARLY ALL OF THEM AREUNDERSTAFFED.THEY COULD USE BETWEEN 25 AND 40FIREFIGHTERS.THEY WORRY ABOUT THE POTENTIALIMPLICATIONS IF THEY CAN'T QUIZKICK TO JOIN THEM.WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CALL THEWHOLE COUNTY FOR ONE INCIDENT.THAT DEPLETES THE RESOURCES OFTHE COUNTY FOR OTHER INCIDENTS.EVERYONE IS HURTING FORVOLUNTEERS.>> THE JOB IS VERY DEMANDING ANDREQUIRES A LOT OF TIME ANDTRAINING WITH LITTLE OR NO PAY.HE ALSO SAID THAT MAY EXPLAINWHY THEY DON'T HAVE MORE TAKERS.EVEN THE FIRE MARSHAL FIGHTSFIRES HERE.HERE'S THE PHONE NUMBER TO CALLIF YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER.THEY ALSO HAVE THESE FLYERS THATTHEY ARE PASSING OUT.LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERFIREFIGHTERS.

Critical need for volunteer firefighters

A house fire in Stokes County again points out the critical need for volunteer firefighters; Margaret Johnson reports.